Small System Spreads Snow in Tonight
Winter Storm Watches are now in effect for the entire Finger Lakes and Upstate New York regions in anticipation of this weekend’s storm. But first, there is one more small system to address.
Low pressure this morning sits over the Arklatex region (where Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana intersect). This low is embedded within the southern branch of the jet stream which will carry it northeast toward the Mid-Atlantic tonight.
Out ahead of the low, skies across the Finger Lakes have been mostly clear overnight. Temperatures are starting out in the single digits as a result.
Clouds will increase this morning and into the afternoon hours, but no precipitation is expected. High temperatures will reach the mid 20s.
A few flurries will start to show up this evening after 8 pm. The snow should become a bit steadier after midnight with some additional snow showers lingering through Friday morning.
Most areas will see accumulations of an inch or less. A few higher elevations in the Southern Tier and Central New York could approach two inches.
Watch for a few slick spots early Friday morning, but for the most part, the morning commute should be fine.
Storm Details Starting to Evolve
Energy from a large storm system just off the coast of the Western United States is beginning to spill onshore into California this morning.
This energy will cross the Rocky Mountains and spawn a new area of low pressure over Texas. This low will rapidly strengthen as it tracks across the Arklatex and to the northeast on a similar path as Thursday’s system.
Eventually, the system will merge with a second piece of energy in the northern branch of the jet stream. This merger, along with other complex atmospheric dynamics, will result in a very strong storm system.
At this point, there have been days worth of consistency in the models showing significant snow in the Finger Lakes. While details still vary from model to model and model run to model run, the picture is beginning to take shape.
Snow should begin sometime in the early afternoon hours Saturday with an initial area of light snow. By Saturday evening, conditions will go downhill as the low approaches and strengthens. Heavy snow will continue through Saturday night and into Sunday morning.
By Sunday afternoon, the widespread snow should end, but a spray of lake effect south of Lake Ontario will be possible. It will also become extremely cold and windy, with temperatures in the single digits and wind chills as low as -15 degrees.
Strong winds, lake effect, and bitter cold will continue into Monday. Road salt will be ineffective due to the coldness and drifting snow will continue to cause significant travel issues at least in rural areas.
Winds and lake effect will diminish Monday night as high pressure moves in for Tuesday.
Schedule of Updates
Given the consistency in the models and the arrival of the storm system in the Pacific, it is my hope to have a first snow map tonight.
I will be hosting a live video Q&A at 8 PM. This will be hosted on Facebook but embedded here on FLXweather.com as a blog post. If all goes according to plan today, I will reveal my snow map during that video session.
Friday morning, I will have a regularly scheduled blog post outlining more of the storm details. If I do not make a snow map today, I will likely have one Friday morning.
Friday evening, I will again host a live Q&A video session with any additional updates. If I make a map today, I may choose to make some small adjustments which I would present during this broadcast.
Saturday will either have an additional morning blog post, or another live video session during the early afternoon, or both. My update plans for Sunday are uncertain.
All throughout this time, please feel free to message or email me with your questions. Accessibility is one of the three core values of Finger Lakes Weather so I am more than happy to give you the specific details you need to remain safe during this storm. Please do not ask for specific snow amounts until after I have a snow map published.
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Betty
Family is planning on skiing at Labrador Sunday evening , coming from otisco valley , think it’s a go or rds too bad, we know the skiing will be good ! Your forecast are mostly spot on the my go to now
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil
It will be tough going. Lots of blowing and drifting. Be careful with those wind chills, too…they could be dropping below -20 during the evening.
FdeA
Scheduled to fly Monday, 6am. What are my chances?
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil
Would need some more information…where are you coming from/into?
Emily
Hi Drew,
I’m planning to make an emergency flight from Syracuse to Manila, the Philippines to see my sick mother. I prefer flying out of Ithaca but the airfare is too high. I don’t want to have someone drive me to and from Syracuse if the weather is awful. Will flying out this Saturday or Monday be ok? Also concerned about flight cancellations. The route I’m looking at now is Syracuse-Newark onwards. Please advice. Thanks very much.
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil
Monday would have less of a chance of problems related to the storm and its broad impact on the air network. That said…if you can get flights arranged to get out of Syracuse during the morning and out of Newark before sundown…you may be just fine.
Wendee
Traveling from Ct to Ithaca to get back for school. What day would you recommend to travel?
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil
Friday….or if you can get into Ithaca before 2 PM Saturday. If neither of those work…late afternoon Monday.
Janelle D.
Looking to drive from Scranton – Bing – Ithaca and to Geneva.
Leaving Friday atound 1p. Need to drive back, same route on Sunday around 1p.
How might that timing and travel route match up to the expected storm?
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil
Friday will have no problems. Sunday, however, will be very difficult for travel. If it can be avoided, it should.
Janelle
Thank you!
Kerry
My daughter has a dance team event in mid-town Manhattan this weekend leaving Ithaca mid day tomorrow. The chartered bus is scheduled to return from NYC, leaving around 3:30 pm to bring them home to Ithaca on Sunday night. Do you think the trip back Sunday afternoon is going to work? Thanks!
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil
I think it will be very difficult on Sunday. Even though the snow will be pulling out of the Northeast, we will still have lake effect and the entire region will have blustery winds and blowing snows.
Esa
So it sounds like the Monday morning commute may be a problem? I’ll be driving from Ithaca to Cortland and other folks in my office are coming from Syracuse, Lisle, and Brooktondale.
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil
Yes, I think it will still be very messy Monday morning.
Kathy Marlin
Will the Skaneateles area be impacted the same as Rochester or worse. Trying to decide if going for an overnight on Sat. to Sun is a big mistake..love your website, just saw it advertised in Life in The Finger Lakes
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil
Hi Kathy! Conditions will be very similar between the two places. Skaneateles may get a bit more snow but the difference won’t be significant. I’d stick home if you can!
Nancy
Do you have a sense of what kind of snow is expected with this storm? Light and fluffy, heavy and wet?
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil
It may start as an in-between type snow…but it will end very light and fluffy. Once the wind kicks up Sunday, the blowing and drifting is going to be a major problem.
gina bain
A lot of us are taking our kids back to college this weekend, what is the best travel day, early Saturday or Monday? We are going from Sodus Point NY to Utica Ny about 2 hrs each way
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil
If you can get back home by 3 or 4 PM Saturday, you should be OK. I wouldn’t recommend Monday…it is going to be surprisingly bad with the wind, lake effect, and bitter cold.
Mary Beth
My daughter is driving from Seneca Falls to Buffalo. Is Sat morning the best time for her to leave?
Meteorologist Drew Montreuil
Yes. Things should be quiet then.